The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-04-22
HOMEGROWN Luxuries.

The majority of farmers, in their de-
sire to plant and SOW many acres in
what are known as the standard of COM
mercial crops, ordinarily neglect to raise
many little things that are very condu-
Give to good living. Perhaps the short
ness Of the season in this part Of the
country is the main cause of this neglect.
1t is certain the tables Of people who
live in towns are much better supplied
with fine garden vegetables and small
fruits than those Of families who live on
farms. especially on large farms OF
those that are but partially improved.
Farmers generally have cabbage, onions.
beets, carrots, turuIps, cucumbers, and
tomatoes, but very few of them raise
caulifiower, which is ss easily raised as
ca bbage, OF egg plant, which can be
produced with as little trouble as toma-
toes. Celery is rarely found in farm
house unless it is brought from some
large town, which is supplied with veg
etabes by a market gardener. By the
Old methods celery was g very expensive
plant to raise and blanch, but by The
improved methods it can be grown with
little difficulty, and it deserves to have
a place in the garden of every farmer.
Almost every one who raises corn has
green ears for roasting and boiling. But
on many farms the time of using them
is limited to two or three weeks. the u.s.
ual period for corn TO remain in the
milk state. All the corn Is planted at
about the same time, and as matter of
course it all natures or becomes hard
about the same number of days after it
was planted. It does not seem TO occur
! to most farmers to plant few hills of
/ corn during every week from April to
| July and thereby secure a succession OF
roasting ears. Mary farmers do not
plant the sweet corn for table purposes
/ because they have no seed or for fear i
/ will nix" with their ordinary dent or
/ flint corn They deprive themselves OF
/ a great and very cheap luxury by not
planting sweet corn at different times
in the spring ard early summer to have
a succession of green ears. Popcorn is
as desirable in the winter as sweet corn
is during the summer and the early part
of the fall. 1t is as easily raised as
| common field corn, is an excellent aTti-
Gle of food, can be prepared for eating
without expense, and is promotive OF
household happiness. Still popcorn
plain or sugared, is more common in the
city than in the country.
The condiments chiefly found or
farmhouse tables are pepper, vinegar
catsup, and mustard. Not infrequently
grated horseradish is found. But tn,
garden radish, one of the most deliciou:
of vegetables, as well as one Of the besi
o: appetiZeTs, is rarely raised by far ners
The few who do raise garden radishe:
SOW all the seed at one time, and have
them in a tender and crisp condition
but few weeks at most. By sowing q
few seeds on rich, sandy soil every week
from the time the frost leaves the sol
till the latter part OF summer ine
radishes can be secured Cor at least hall
the year. By sowing the seed of the
| black Spanish radish at about the time
the seed Of fiat turnips is usually sowr
supply Of somewhat inferior radishe;
can be obtained for use during cold
weather Garden cress, or pepper grass
Is not as generally raised as it was
many years ago, though it is an excellent
relish, especially when used on cold
meal. Watercress has no superior as q
relish, and it can be raised almost with.
out trouble on the banks of streams, the
margin Of springs, or the shores of lakes.
a bed once established Will remain in
/ good condition for years, and will sup.
| ply fresh stalks for the table from early
/ in the spring till winter.
Few farmers pay much attention to
raising melons, and their use is less
/ common in the country than in the city.
! They do not rank very high as articler
of food, but they contribute to good liv-
/ ing. During the past few years the con-
/ sumption of melons has increased very
/ fast in cities, and housekeepeTs find
them economical to buy, as they take
the place of pastry. Good melons can
! be raised ss far north as corn can, and
/ every farmers family should be well
supplied with them.